Method of and means for folding shoe uppers



April 23, 1940. G. vAcHoN Er AL METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FOLDING SHOEUPPERS Filed Sept. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v J30 6'6 66 m 5 INVENTORSATTORN EYS April 23, 1940. VACHQN ET AL 2,198,140 METHOD OF AND MEANSFOR FOLDING SHOE UPPERS Filed Sept. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ulmml////0('/*( A. Var/20 INVEN S 60- ATTORNEYS April 23, 1940. VACHQN r AL2,198,140

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FOLDING SHOE UPPERS Filed Sept. 12, 1938 3Sheets-Sheet 3 III/I04 YII/I/Ill w ,216 20a 1a. 57

Afronuevs tour,

Patented Apr. 23, 1940 METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FOLDING snoE UPPERSLionel G. Vachon and Hubert A. Vachon, Haverhill, Mass, assignorsSystem, Inc., Haverhill, Mass;

of Massachusetts to Stampress Folding a corporation ApplicationSeptember 12, 1938, Serial No. 229,598

17 Claims.

Our invention relates to the art of manufacturing shoes and has amongits objects and advantages the provision of an improved method of andmeans for folding shoe uppers and the like.

In the manufacture of shoe uppers having a finished edge in the natureof a sinuous conconsiderable difficulty has been experienced in foldingthe material of the upper back upon itself to provide asinusoidalconfiguration. Heretofore the folding of the material toprovide such a configuration has been performed by hand, and nosatisfactory machine has been devised to per form such work.Accordingly, an object of our invention is to provide a novel method ofand means for folding a considerable margin of the shoe upper and thelike along a sinusoidal line, wherein such work may be performed in anefficient manner through mechanical means so designed as to execute awell performed and neat appearing job.

In our invention, the shoe upper blank is cut to provide an edge in theshape of a sinusoidal line. The margin along thisedge is skived, and themargin is bent back upon itself along a sinusoidal line, with theoverlapping parts ad hesively secured into a unitary structure. Themargin folded back upon the upper proper is snipped at suitableintervals at substantially right angles to the concavities of thesinusoidal edge prior to folding thereof, while the convexities alongthe edge are crimped during the folding operation. The crimping isperformed by novel mechanical means, while the margin is simultaneouslyfolded along a sinusoidal line throughout its entire length, after whichthe overlapping parts are pressed into adhesive relation.

A further object is to provide a novel top folding plate operativelyrelated to a base folding plate for pressing purposes, wherein'a novelfree member folding plate is peculiarly related to the top folding platefor folding the margin along aslnuscidal line. The top folding plate ischaracterized by a grooved formation which cooperates in a novel mannerwiththe free member folding plate for crimping the margin bent back;upon the piece proper along the convexities of the margin, so that aneatly formed bend maybe made.

A further object is to provide a folding machine of the type describedin which novel folding mechanism is incorporated and in which novelpressing means are embodied.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a topplan view of a machine embodying our invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional of Figure 1;

t Figure 3 is a plan view ofthe free member 5 folding plate;

Figure 4 is an end view of the structureof Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the top folding plate;

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-43 of Figure 5;

' Figure '1 is a sectional view along the line 1-4 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the base folding plateand the topfolding plate illustrating a 'shoe upper placed in position preparatoryto folding the same;

Figure 9 is a similar View illustrating the free member folding plateapplied to the upper;

Figure 10 is a similar view illustrating one step in the foldingoperation;

Figure 11 is a similar view illustrating a second step in the foldingoperation;

Figure 12 is a similar View pressing operation;

Figure 13 is a View of a shoe upper folded in accordance with ourinvention; I

Figure 14 is a sectional View along the line I' l-44 of Figure 13; 3

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the machine illustrated in Figure 1, butwith other folding mechanism associated therewith for executingdifferently shaped folds;

Figure 16 is a sectional View along the line 5-16 of Figure 15; i

Figure 17 is a view similar toFigure 16 illustrating one step in-thefolding operation;

Figure 18 is -a sectional view along the line "l8-l8'o-f Figure 15; 4

Figure 19 is a view illustrating a second step in the folding operation;

Figure 20 is a View illustrating a third step-in the folding operation;and l 1 Figure 2'1 is a-plan view of a toe blank which may be folded inaccordance with our invention.

Referring to Figures land 2, the machine3ll includes a bed 32 whichmaybe mounted on legs or other suitable structure (not shown). Upon thebed 32 we mount a base folding plate 34, '50 which plate is restrainedfrom'lateral shifting-on the bed 32 by reasonof pins 36 which areanchored to the bed andextend through openings 38 in the plate, one ofwhich openings is illustrated in Figure 1. A top folding plate 40 isview along the line 2-2 illustrating the fold positioned above the basefolding plate 34 and includes openings 42 for slidably receiving thepins 36. One of the openings 42 is illustrated in Figure 1. metallicplate 44 and a. body plate 46 which are connected as a unit through themedium of rivets 48.

Top folding plate is: provided with a bore for the reception of a shank52 formed on the shaft 54 slidable in the guide 56 formed integrallywith the bed 32. Shaft 54 includes a collar 58 constituting a bed forthe plate 40, while the shank 52 is threaded for the reception of a nut66 which clamps the plate to the collar 58 for connecting the plate andthe shaft as a unit. We provide the base folding plate 34 with a bore 62of suflicient diameter to freely receive the collar 58. Plate 40 ismovable toward and away from the base plate 34 and is restrained fromrelative rotary motion because of the guide pins 36.

To the lower end of the shaft 54 we pivot one end of a link 64, theother end of which is pivotally connected at 66 with a foot pedal 68.Pedal 68 is pivotally connected at 10 with a bracket 12 anchored to thefloor 14. Shaft 54 may be reciprocated through the medium of the footpedal 68 for raising and lowering the top folding plate 40 with respectto the base folding plate 34. Upon the shaft 54' we mount a collar 16which may be adjusted therealong and secured in fixed relation theretoby a set screw 18. Collar 16 is arranged in the path of the guide 56 forabutting the same to limit the rise of the top folding plate 40.

To the lower face of the top folding plate 40 We connect a limit gaugeand former 80 which is in the nature of a right-angular flange having asinusoidal configuration, as illustrated in Figure 1. The configurationof the limit gauge and former 80 will, of course, depend upon theconfiguration of the line of fold to be formed on the shoe upper. Basefolding plate 34 is provided with a slot 82 for acconnnodatmg the limitgauge nected shoe uppers. The wall 88 defining one side of the openingis beveled, as illustrated in Figure 1. Referring to Figures 1 and 5,the front edge 90 of the body plate 46 includes a configuration contourof the limit gauge and former 80. Metallic plate 44 is extendedbeyondthe edge 90, as at 92, and the edge 94 is of the same contour as theedge 90. In Figure 5, we illustrate the extension 92 as being grooved at96 inwardly of the edge 94. The grooves 96 are localized in groupslimited to the concaved runs 98, I00, I02 and I04 of the edge 94, andthe grooves are arranged substantially at right angles to these runs. II2 and H4 are beveled to a knife edge, as at II6. Figures 3 and 4illustrate the free member folding plate or hold-down I I8. Thishold-down includes an edge I20 of the same configuration as the limitgauge and former 80, and is beveled to a knife edge, as indicated atI22. The sweeps I24 and I26 along the edge I20 are provided with I28.Hold-down I I8 is notched at I30 for the reception of alignmentprojections I 32 formed on the top folding plate 40. Two finger Topfolding plate 40 comprises a The convexed runs I06, I08, H0,

holes I34 are formed in the hold-down H8, and a handle I36 is attachedto the hold-down.

Figure 13 illustrates a shoe upper at I38. Upper I38 includes an edgeI40 of sinusoidal configuration, which edge constitutes the bight of thefold. The margin folded backupon the upper proper is illustrated at I42,which margin is adhesively secured to the upper. The margin I42, beforebeing bent back upon the upper, is illustrated in dotted lines at I44.In blanking the upper I38 we snip the margin in the zones of theconcavities I46 as indicated at I46. Figure 14 illustrates the upper I38as being skived at I59 throughout the area of the overlap I52.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of our invention,the operation thereof will be readily understood. The upper blank I38 islaid on the base plate 34, With the margin I42 lying upon the extension92 of the top folding plate 40 (see Fig. 8). The edge of the margin liesin abutting relation with the edge 96 of the body plate 46. At this timethe metallic plate 44 rests on the base plate 40. The hold-down H8 isthen laid upon the upper blank I38, as in Figure 9. Alignmentprojections I 32 will then lie in the notches I30 for properly aligningthe edge I 20 of the hold-down I I8 with respect to the edge 94 of theextension 92.

Hold-down H8 is held down manually against the upper blank I 38, and thetop folding plate 40 is elevated through the medium of the pedal 68 tothe position of Figure 10. Such elevation of the top folding plate 40bends the margin I42 upwardly into a position substantially at rightangles to the upper proper along the edge i20- of the hold-down H8. Attheisame time, elevation of the top folding plate 40 brings thealignment extensions I32 above the hold-down II8 so as to permit forwardshifting of the same upon the base folding plate 34. With the partspositioned according to Figure 10, the hold-down I I8 is advancedforwardly for bending the margin I42 back'upon the hold-down andunderneath the extension 92, as illustrated in Figure 11. The hold-downH8 is advanced sufiiciently far to bring the bight I54 of the fold intopressure relation with the limit gauge and former 80. Saw teeth I28grips the leather so as to positively shift the same.

,After pushing the shoe upper blank I38 home to the positionlof Figure11, the hold-down H8 is withdrawn and the top folding plate 40 islowered for pressing the margin I42 against the blank proper, asillustrated in Figure 12. Pedal 68 is pivoted intermediate its ends soas to be susceptible of foot manipulation for raising and loweringpurposes. The concaved runs 98, I00, I02 and I04 are flat, as at I56 inFigure 7. As the margin I42 is being bent in the stages of Figures 11and 12, particularly Figure 12, the the margin will buckle into thegrooves 96, which causes the convexities of the margin to be crimped, asillustrated at I60, thus taking up slack in the margin in such manner asto permit an effective adhesive connection between the margin and theblank proper. The snipped runs of the margin permit effective bendingabout the concavities of the bight, while the crimping action on themargin tends to contract the margin as it is being crowded into a morelimited space.

After the margin I 42 has been pressed home, according to Figure 12, themargin is additionally pressed and secured through the medium of apressure frame I62. Frame I62 parallels the bed 32 and is swingablyconnected therewith through the medium of parallel arms I64. Two armsIE4 arepivotally connected at I66 with each end of the frame I62 and atI68 with the flange no depending from the bed 32. Frame l62 includes arecess H2 of sufficient accommodate the nut 60 as the pressure body INis brought into pressure relation with the top folding plate iii. Ahandle H6 is connected with the frame it?! to facilitate shifting of theframe from the full to the dotted line positions of Figure 2. Frame 162maintains parallel relation with the bed 32 in all positions of theformer so as to have uniform pressure on plate 40. When the frame I62 isswung upwardly and backwardly, the frame .moves sufficiently far topivot the arms 15! beyond the vertical so that the frame will restagainst the bracket H8 to be supported in the clear of the foldingfacilities of the machine.

Obviously, the folding mechanism so far described may be made up inunits for folding material along lines of different configuration thanthat illustrated. The sinusoidal line. of bend may include more or lessalternately related convexities and concavities. The. adhesive employedfor securing the margin M2 to the upper proper is well known in the artand need not, therefore, be described.

In Figures 15 to .ZLinclusiVe, we illustrateothe manner in which adifferently shaped shoe part may be folded in accordance with theinvention. Upon the base foldingplate 34 we mount a top folding platenot having openings is? for the reception of the pins Plate lat isclamped to the shaft M in the same manner as the top folding plate til.Plate B36 includes a metallic plate 18 i riveted to the body plate Weprovide the top folding plate I89 with a U-ohaped slot lilli whichflares outwardly, as indicated at Mill in Figure 15. Plate use isprovided with a U -shapsd slot 132 which is slightly smaller than theslot to provide a ledge i9 1 extending into the slot Folding blocks 5%are slidably keyed at sea within recesses fill) in the top folding plate5%. Blocks I86 carry flanges 2B2 which represent continuations of theledge We. The eight 2M of the ledge te l is grooved at 2% in thesame'inanner as the concaved runs of the extension Q2 of Figure .5.

l igure 23'. illustrates a toe piece 2% which is to be folded back uponitself along the line are. Toe piece shaped to lie upon the ledge ltd.The margin to be folded back upon the piece 268 is substantiallycoextensive in area and contour with the ledge ltd. In folding, thepiece toil-is placed upon the ledge iiifi after which a free memberfolding piece 2%. Plate Zldis provided with aligning e" Eli? havingguiding relation with the walls 226 of the plate 534 centering theextension 222 of the plate 256 centrally of of the toe piece 2%. Plate2% also has abutting relation at 2253 with the plate ltd for limiting inward movement of the plate one while the plate Hit lies on the basefolding plate 34. Figure 16 illustrates the piece 238 positioned on theledge and the free member folding plate 2E6 placed imposition.

ln l igure 17, we illustrate the top folding plate its elevated forbending the margin 228 up weirdly. With the plate l8!) positionedaccording to Figure 17, the plate 266 is in the clear of the plate andmay be advanced forwardly. As the plate illii is advanced, margin 228 isfolded back upon the piece 288 along the concavities folded back uponthe piece.

folding proportions to the top folding plate 2 it is placed upon the toethe extension 22 3 2l2, while the margin along the run 230 is also Atthis time the blocks 1% are moved toward each other, as illustrated inruns of the margin 228 back upon piece 288;

lowered in the same manner as the plate M3 for pressing the marginagainst the piece 268 proper. The grooved curvature 264 performs acrimping action on the run 235] of the margin in the same manner as thegrooved concavities of the extension 92.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate myinvention that others may,

by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same foruse undervarious conditions of service.

We claim:

i. A machine of the type described, comprise ing: means for supporting ashoe part having a margin of straight and curved configuration to befolded back upon the part proper; means for partly folding the curvedmargin back upon the part proper; and means for folding the straightmargin back upon the part proper.

2. A machine of. the type described, comprismargin of straight andcurved configuration to be folded back upon the part proper; means forpartly folding the curved margin back upon the Fig. 20, for bending thestraight The plate BIS is now withdrawn and the plate l to .ing: meansfor supporting a shoe part having, a

part proper; means for folding the straight margin back upon the partproper; and means for crimping the margin bent back upon the shoe partalong convex lines.

3. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; amanually actuated hold.- down for holding the work against the supportand having a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companionbend forming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward andaway from the work support; said work folding means cooperating withsaid hold down for bending a margin of the work across said bend formingedges; said hold-down being adapted to advance the work on the worksupport for crowding the margin between the hold down and said workfolding means when the latter is spaced a predetermined distance fromthe work support; and crimping formations on said work folding means forcrimping the margin bent about a convex line on the work; said workfolding means being arranged to press the margin against the work afterwithdrawal of the hold-down. l

l. A machine of the type described, comprising: awork support; amanually actuated holddown for holding the work against the support andhaving a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companion bendforming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward and awayfromthe work support; said work folding means cooperating with said holddown for bending amargin of the work across adapted to advance theworkon the work support for crowdingthe margin between the hold-down andsaid work folding means when the latter is spaced a predetermined.distance from the work said bend forming edges; said hold-down being"support; and a crimping formation on said work folding means forcrimping the margin bent about a convex line on the work; said workfolding means being arranged to press the margin against the work afterwithdrawal of the holddown; slotte'drun underneath said work foldingmeans.

said crimping formation comprising a" 5. A machine of the typedescribed, comprising: a work support; a manually actuated holddown forholding the Work against the support and having a bend forming edge; awork folding means having a companion bend forming edge and means formoving the work folding means toward and away from the work support;said work folding means down for bending a margin of the work acrosssaid bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to advance thework on the Work support for crowding the margin between the hold-downand said work folding means when the latter is spaced a predetermineddistance from the work support; and crimping formations on said workfolding means forcrimping the margin bent about a convex line on thework; said work folding means being arranged to press the margin againstthe work after withdrawal of the holddown; said crimping formationscomprising a group of grooves underneath said work folding means.

6. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; amanually actuated holddown for holding the work against the support andhaving a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companion bendforming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward and awayfrom the work support; said work folding means cooperating with saidholddown for bending a margin of the work across said bend formingedges; said hold-down being adapted to advance the work on the worksupport for crowding the margin between the hold-down and said workfolding means when the latter is spaced at predetermined distance fromthe work support; and crimping formations on said work folding means forcrimping the margin bent about convex lines on the work; said workfolding means being arranged to press the margin against the work afterwithdrawal of the holddown; said crimping formations comprising a seriesof groups of grooves underneath said work folding means.

7. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; amanually actuated holddown for holding the work against the work supportand having a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companionbend forming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward andaway from the work support said hold-down and said work folding meansbeing provided with cooperating aligning means for precisely positioningthe hold-down relatively to the work folding means; said work foldingmeans cooperating with said hold-down for bending a margin of the workacross said bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to advancethe work on the work support for crowding the margin between thehold-down and said work folding means when the latter is spaced apredetermined distance from the work support for bringing saidcooperating aligning means out of engagement; and a crimping formationon said work folding means for crimping the margin bent about a convexline on the work; said crimping formation comprising grooves underneaththe work folding means and intersecting the bend forming edge thereof;said work folding means being arranged to press the margin against thework after withdrawal of the hold-down.

8. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; amanually actuated holddown for holding the work against the work supportand having a bend forming edge; a work cooperating with said holdagainstthe work vbent about a convex line on folding means having a companionbend forming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward andaway from the'work support;

said hold-down and saidwork folding means being provided withcooperating aligning means for precisely positioning the hold-downrelatively to the work folding means; said work folding meanscooperating with said hold-down for bending a margin of the work acrosssaid bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to adbringing saidcooperating aligning means'out of i' engagement; and crimping formationson said work folding means for crimping themargin bent about convexlines on the work; said crimping formations comprising a series ofgrooves underneath the work folding means and intersecting the bendforming edge thereof; said work folding means being arranged to pressthe margin after withdrawal of the holddown.

9. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; amanually actuated holddown for holding the work against the support andhaving a bend forming edge; a work folding the work across hold-downbeing 10. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; amanually actuated holddown for holding the work against the support andhaving a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companion bendforming edge and means for moving the work folding to advance the workon the support for crowding the hold-down and said work the latter isspaced a predetermined distance from the work support; crimpingformations on said work folding means for crimping the margin the work;said work folding means being arranged gin against the work afterwithdrawal of the hold-down; said crimping formations comprising a groupof grooves underneath said work folding Work margin between the means;and manually actuated auxiliary presmoved down on said.

sure means arranged to be work folding means for additionally pressingthe margin against the work.

11. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; amanually actuated holddown for holding the work against the support thework support '1 folding means when to press the marfolding means havinging edge and means for moving the work folding ranged to be movedbending a margin of means when the latter is spaced a predetermined andhaving a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companion bendforming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward and awayfrom the said work folding means cooperating with said hold-down forbending a margin of the work across said bend forming edges; saidhold-down being adapted to advance the work on the work support forcrowding the margin between the hold-down and said work folding meanswhen the latter is spaced a predetermined distance from the worksupport; a crimping formation on said work folding means for crimpingthe margin bent about a convex line on the work; said work folding meansbeing arranged to press the margin against the work after withdrawal ofthe hold-down; a manually actuated pressure frame; and a parallelogramlinkage swingably connecting the pressure frame with said work support,to bring the pressure frame down on said work folding means foradditionally pressing the margin against the work.

12. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; amanually actuated holddown for holding the work against the work supportand having a bend forming edge; a work a companion bend formmeans towardand away from the work support; said hold-down and said work foldingmeans being provided with cooperating aligning means for preciselypositioning the hold-down relatively to the work folding means; saidwork folding means cooperating with said hold-down for the work acrosssaid bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to advance thework on the work support for crowding the margin between the hold-downand said work folding means when the latter is spaced a predetermineddistance from the work support for bringing said cooperating aligningmeans out of engagement; a crimping formation on said i work foldingmeans for crimping the margin bent about a convex line on the work; saidcrimping formation comprising grooves underneath the Work folding meansand intersecting the bend forming edge thereof; said work folding meansbeing arranged to press the margin against the work after withdrawal ofthehold-down; and manually actuated auxiliary pressure means ardown onsaid work folding means for additionally pressing the margin to thework.

13. A machine for folding shoe uppers and the like along a sinusoidalline, comprising: a work support, a manually actuated hold-down forholding the work on the support and having a bend forming edge; workfolding means having a companion bend forming edge and means-for movingthe work folding means relatively to the work support; said work foldingmeans cooperating with said hold-down for bending a margin of the workacross said bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to advancethe work on the work support for crowding the margin between thehold-down and said work folding work support;

distance from the work support; and means asso ciated with said workfolding means for providing a predetermined crimp in the margin foldedabout a convex line on the work; said work folding means being arrangedto press the margin against the work after withdrawal of the holddown.

14. A machine for folding shoe uppers and the like along a sinusoidalline; comprising: a work support, a manually actuated hold-down forholding the work on the support and having a bend forming edge; workfolding means having a companion bend forming edge and means for movingthe work folding means relatively to the work support; said work foldingmeans cooperating with said hold-down for bending a margin of the workacross said bend forming edges; said hold-down being adapted to advancethe work on the work support for crowding the margin between thehold-down and said work folding means when the latter is spaced apredetermined distance from the work support; and means associated withthe work folding means for providing a predetermined crimp in the marginbent about convex lines on the work; said work folding means beingarranged to press the margin against the work after withdrawal of theholddown. i

15. A machine of the type described, comprising: a work support; amanually actuated holddown for holding the work against the support andhaving a bend forming edge; a work folding means having a companion bendforming edge and means for moving the work folding means toward and awayfrom the work support; said work folding means cooperating with saidholddown for bending a margin of the work across said bend formingedges; said hold-down being adapted to advance the work on the worksupport for crowding the margin between the holddownand said workfolding means when the lat ter is spaced a predetermined distance fromthe work support; gauge means on said work folding means for engagingthe bight of the bend, to limit the inward thrust of said hold-down; andmeans associated. with the work foldingmeans for providing predeterminedcrimps in the margin bent about convex lines on the work; said workfolding means being arranged to press the margin against the work afterwithdrawal of the hold-down.

16'. The herein describedv method; of folding margins on shoe uppers orthe like along a sinusoidal line, which consists in simultaneouslyfolding the margin throughout its entire length, and providing apredetermined crimp in the margin bent about a convex line on the work.

17. The herein described method of folding margins on shoe uppers or thelike along a sinusoidal line, which consists in simultaneously foldingthe margin throughout its entire length,

and producing predetermined crimps in the mar gin bent about convexlines on the work.

HUBERT A. VACI-ION. LIONEL G. VACHON.

